Media
SGCNZ NSSP 2019
Regional News, Sep 17 to Oct 1, 2019
SGCNZ UOSWSF 2019
Otaki Mail, July 2019
Date: 24th June 2019
Lauren Healey (Y10) has won first place at the prestigious SGCNZ Sheilah Winn Creative Essay Writing Competition. Criteria for the competition was the essay had to be under 400 words and incorporate 20 phrases from Shakespeare’s works. The category was open to any student in New Zealand in Year 7 – 10. Lauren’s essay was selected in the top three in the country, she then travelled to Wellington with the Sheilah Winn drama girls to the SGCNZ National Prize-giving and was awarded 1st place.
Here is Lauren’s winning essay:
SGCNZ/Ida Gaskin Shakespeare Essay Competition
Option 3 – Short Story
‘The Betrayal’
Act 1, Scene 1, An upstairs bedroom
“These violent delights have violent ends” the inspector’s assistant Yorick agreed.
A woman lay before them on the floor – dead.
“What was the murder weapon?” intoned the Inspector “Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?”
“Yes,” Yorick pointed out “the family are on their way. The husband is missing”.
“A double tragedy. I shall tell them ‘if you have tears, prepare to shed them now’, he is likely the assailant”.
“He was a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy. What’s done can’t be undone”.
“He is obviously the murderer. There’s many a man has more hair than wit”.
A note sat on the dresser. The inspector examined it. “I am not bound to please thee with my answer,” the first line read “Listen to many, speak to few. Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel”. It was signed BE.
“Do you think he did it for attention? After all the world’s a stage, and all men and women merely players.”
“Did you know him?” Yorik asked.
“I do desire that we better strangers” responded the Inspector.
“And the wife?”
“A dear friend too, the dearest it seems.”
“Your wife would give you little thanks for that” retorted Yorick.
“No legacy is so rich as honesty” confessed the Inspector
“I wondered why you got here so fast Inspector”.
“Better three hours too soon than a minute too late” the Inspector retorted.
Yorick pondered “Then you must have been here about the time of the murder…” He saw the movement from the corner of his eye. The blow hard, the same knife protruding from his chest.
As Yorick’s life faded away, he gasped. “I had my suspicions about you”. With his final words he gasped “Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood. Truth will come to light, murder cannot be hid long.”
“The course of true love never did run smooth,” the inspector laughed “It appears I have happened on a murder suicide”. He paused “To do a great right do a little wrong”.
He picked up the writing pad. “Now for a second note” as he copied Yorick’s handwriting. “To BE or not to BE, “suspicion always haunts the guilty mind…”
Act 1, Scene 2 The Magistrates Court
“Inspector, perhaps you can give us your report on the murder”.
“Certainly Judge. Alas, poor Yorick, I knew him…”
Kapiti News, June 12 2019
1 News Now
Mon June 3, Cushla Norman, 1 News Reporter
The language of William Shakespeare may not roll as comfortably off the tongue these days, but students from across the country are proving the themes of his prose are still relevant.
Students from 46 schools gathered in Wellington this weekend for the national Sheilah Winn Shakespeare festival, interpreting his work with a very 2019 twist.
The Marist College adaption of ‘As You Like It’ took the cross-dressing comedy a step further by giving characters no specific gender.
Student director Sylvie Pease said the gender-fluid adaption “felt more modern and real to us.”
As well as experimenting with gender, the students also experimented with culture.
Kuranui College set its take on Richard III in the time of the New Zealand wars.
The students replaced Richard with Queen Victoria and substituted Richmond for the second Maori King.
The all-female troupe then summoned Maori spirits with a karanga to haunt Richard/Queen Victoria.
“Especially in this day and age I think having an all-female cast is so inspiring to other women out there,” said student director Florence Cater.
Wellington College student director George Parker incorporated sign language into his silent adaption of Rome and Juliet. “I wanted something that sort of transcended the medium a little bit.”
The Sheilah Winn Shakespeare festival was started by Dawn Sanders 28 years ago.
She said this year’s entries are some of the most innovative she’s seen, and students are using the bard’s stories as a talking point for social problems.
“It’s a way to challenge themselves about bullying, about issues like suicide and they’re much more open, they’ll talk about it.”
Samantha Wan (Year 13) finalist in the Shakespeare Static Image Poster Competition. by Miss Wan
SGCNZ University Of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival
MS BERCINSKAS — MAY 30, 2019
Our best wishes go with Samantha Wan (Yr 13) and Hannah Cole (Yr 10) this weekend as their work is being assessed for a place in the SGCNZ finals being held in Wellington this weekend. Samantha is in the final for her design for the Adam Foundation Shakespeare Static Image and Poster Competition, and Hannah is in the final for her essay for the Ida Gaskin Shakespeare Essay Competition. Sophie Baron (Yr 12) is also part of the Festival as she will take part in workshops in preparation for her trip to The Globe in July as a New Zealand representative.
“FAREWELL, FAIR CRUELTY”
The scream was gut-wrenching and horrifying. It took me a moment to realise it was coming from my own mouth. “This above all, to thine own self be true!” I immediately regretted speaking. My captor stared at me in shock, muttering, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now,” Pain shot through my body as fear swam through my brain. “Let no such man be trusted,” I thought. Despite my efforts to stay awake, darkness overcame me.
“Love is too young to know what conscience is.” I dreamt of my ex-boyfriend, who used me for his own good. I then thought of my current fiancé. “The course of true love never did run smooth.” I dreamt of my best friend. “I would not wish any companion in the world but you.” I remembered she had always teased me for being short. “Though she be but little, she is fierce.” My dreams moved on. “Scars remind us that the past was real.” My emotional scars were many, and I was reminded of them every day. “Poor and content is rich, and rich enough.” I sighed. “O, had I but followed the arts! Be who you are, not who the world wants you to be. We know what we are, but not what we may be.” A burning pain began to creep its way up my side, and I started to regain consciousness. A last thought flashed through my head. “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.”
The cold metal blade flashed in the light as a bloodied hand raised it and thrust it down into my side. I knew that I was going to die. “Death is a fearful thing,” I told myself. However, the stroke of death is as a lover’s pinch, which hurts and is desired. I did desire to die, that was true. I was ready to venture into the undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveller returns. I felt that I was fulfilling my destiny by allowing myself to be killed. It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves. Staring up at my captor’s face, I held his gaze unwaveringly. As I passed from this world, one last thought blinked into existence. “To be,
or not to be, that is the question. Farewell, fair cruelty.”
QUOTES USED:
1. This above all, to thine own self be true
2. The lady doth protest too much, methinks
3. Let no such man be trusted
4. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now
5. Love is too young to know what conscience is
6. The course of true love never did run smooth
7. I would not wish any companion in the world but you
8. Though she be but little, she is fierce
9. Scars remind us that the past was real
10. Poor and content is rich, and rich enough
11. O, had I but followed the arts
12. Be who you are, not who the world wants you to be
13. We know what we are, but not what we may be
14. Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none
15. Death is a fearful thing
16. The stroke of death is as a lover’s pinch, which hurts and is desired
17. The undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveller returns
18. It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves
19. To be or not to be, that is the question
20. Farewell, fair cruelty
22 May, 2019 11:00am
Whang?rei Boys’ High School students from Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand’s 2018 National Festival. Photography: Memory of Light.
All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players, and students from two Northland schools will be treading the boards next month at the National University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival.
Scenes from Two Noble Kinsmen, Cymbeline, Measure for Measure and 20 other plays will be presented by the 48 groups from throughout the country at Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand’s National University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festivals (SGCNZ UOSWSF) over Labour Weekend.
From Northland, groups from Tauraroa Area School and Whang?rei Girls’ High School will be performing.
As well, Manaakitia Hoepo, 17, from Kaitaia College, who was named best performer for Te Tai Tokerau in the regional Shakespeare Festival, will give a speech and mentor the young actors. Manaakitia has been selected as a Direct Entry student to SGCNZ’s National Shakespeare Schools Production week in September/October. He will also be Inspiring SGCNZ Alumnus speaker on Sunday with the showcase from 4-5pm.
Manaakitia Hoepo, 17, from Kaitaia College, will be the Inspiring SGCNZ Alumnus speaker at the National University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival next month.
Performed in Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre throughout the morning and afternoon on Saturday and Sunday of Queen’s Birthday Weekend, the 5 and 15-minute scenes, were selected out of over 500 scenes from SGCNZ’s Regional Festivals nationwide.
Tauraroa Area School will perform various scenes from Romeo and Juliet on the stage on the morning of June 1, while Whang?rei Girls’ High School will perform Act III scene I from Romeo and Juliet on the morning of June 2.
The casts of the school range from 2 to 36, which is the largest ever. There is inclusion of te reo and other cultural influences.
Of the 120,000 participants over the past 28 years, many alumni have gone on to fill theatres and screen, acting, directing, producing, playing roles backstage, front of house, as arts managers, work in Weta Workshop and Weta Digital, become radio and television reporters, playwrights, teachers, promotional positions, and a myriad other occupations. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is also an alumna.
In addition to the acts from the plays there will be scenes which were invited from SGCNZ’s inaugural Dance Nimble Soles programme including Henry VI Part I – performed by Wellington Home Educators’ Network, Antony and Cleopatra by the Sri Lankan Dance Academy and from Romeo and Juliet by Wellington College in mime and NZ Sign Language.
22 May, 2019 8:00am
The school took home the winning spots at the regional festival of the secondary schools 2019 Otago University Sheilah Winn Festival of Shakespeare.
They will travel to Wellington on Queen’s Birthday Weekend for the 28th national final of the New Zealand Shakespeare Globe Centre (SGCNZ) festival at the Michael Fowler Centre.
More than 8000 students took part in more than 30 regional festivals with 48 teams making it to the finals.
Two John Paul College teams will be going to the national final for the Shakespeare competition. Photo / Stephen Parker
From there, 24 students will be chosen to become members of the SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company who will go to the London’s Globe Theatre next year.
The festival encouraged creativity, innovation, imagination and required hard work as students acted and directed a modernised version of a Shakespearean scene.
The two winning John Paul College teams performed a compilation of scenes from Macbeth and a scene from Hamlet Act 3.
Macbeth was interpreted through Harry Potter to show how J K Rowling was influenced by the Shakespeare play when writing Harry Potter.
John Paul College head of drama Gabrielle Thurston directed Macbeth and said it was a privilege to introduce the students to the literary works through their shared passion in the arts.
“The students’ excitement and the opportunity for them to experience a feast of theatre and creativity is a great reward,” she said.
Year 13 deputy head girl Ashleigh Webb performed in both skits and said it was different, in a good way, from the other drama she had been a part of.
“It’s nice to be able to perform alongside other schools and see their different interpretations of Shakespeare,” she said.
SGCNZ chief executive and trustee Dawn Sanders said the festival was more than drama and was a “life skills enhancing organisation through Shakespeare”.
Sanders said progression in the festival was an accolade within schools and received high praise in school ERO reports.
She said having made it to the national festival was an opportunity for the young creatives to be exposed to new ideas and ways of thinking.
“Many students tell me how they have found self-worth being valued, making offers in rehearsals and having their ideas and thoughts included have given them self-confidence,” Sanders said.
Kapiti News, April 24 2019
15 Apr, 2019 1:08pm
Tauraroa Area School’s Dani Ngakura-Smith, centre, performs in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Photo / John Stone
Judges had a hard time picking the winners from seven Northland school participating in a well-attended Shakespeare festival at Kamo High School.
At least 100 students from Springbank School, Kaitaia College, Tauraroa Area School, Whang?rei Boys High School, Whang?rei Girls High School, Kamo High School, and Pompallier Catholic College took part in the annual event.
The University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival was held at Kamo High School on Thursday.
Kaitaia College’s Manaakitia Hoepo secured direct entry into the National School Shakespeare Performance to be held in October.
Whang?rei Girls High School performed the best five-minute play while Tauraroa students won the 15-minute play.
Both will represent Te Tai Tokerau in the national festival in Wellington at Queen’s Birthday weekend.
Debi Walters-Brown, New Zealand Shakespeare Globe Centre Tai Tokerau co-ordinator, said the number of participants this year was probably the highest ever.
“We’ve had really good audience numbers, positive attitude from all schools that participated and it was very hard for the judges to pick the winners,” she said.
The festival took place in 24 regions throughout New Zealand.
”What is really outstanding is that nationwide there were over 500 teams taking part this year. We’ve had more student-directed performances than before, too,” Dawn Sanders, chief exective of Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ, said.
”It’s a wonderful response considering Shakespeare isn’t even in taught in schools now. It’s very exciting.”
Student and Timekeeper Katelyn Stewart, left, and Jessie Bell, from Bellbird Speech and Drama, with the trophies for the winners. Photo / John Stone
Students compete for a place in the national finals. Photo / John Stone
Tauraroa Area School students Darius Martin-Baker, left, and Sam Dutton performing in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Photo / John Stone
Isabella Sharipova-Williams, left, and Jeffrey Williams, from Kamo High School, performing in “Othello”. Photo / John Stone
There was tragedy, romance and drama aplenty at the 2019 Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival held yesterday in Dunedin.
Ten schools participated in the annual Otago regional event held at King’s and Queen’s Performing Arts Centre, all hoping to make it to the national competition in Wellington at Queen’s Birthday weekend.
More than 120 secondary school pupils spent the day acting out various scenes from Shakespeare’s plays, while three finalists in each category performed in an evening showcase.
Otago regional representative Debbie Vercoe said this year’s entries were mostly pupil-directed.
”The schools have been working really hard since the start of the year … there are lots of really fresh interpretations of Shakespeare’s words.”
Pupils from Wakatipu High School directed both of their entries.
Their five-minute entry, directed by Annie Black, was based on the tragedy Hamlet.
Annie said they had fun performing in front of the other pupils.
”It went a lot faster than I thought it would.”
The three adjudicators announced the winner at last night’s evening showcase.
Results:
Winning 5-minute scene: John McGlashan College, Romeo and Juliet.
Winning 15-minute scene: Logan Park High School, King Lear.
Direct entry to National Shakespeare in Schools Programme: Maeischa Fox, Kavanagh College.
Denise Walsh Memorial Award for the Best Ensemble: Kaikorai Valley College, Macbeth.
laura.smith@alliedpress.co.nz
3 Apr, 2019 12:58pm
Emma Walker, arts coordinator and drama teacher for Stratford High School, at the TET King’s Theatre
Stratford Press
By: Alyssa Smith
Drama students from around Taranaki will be treading the boards in Shakespeare’s plays at the TET Kings Theatre next month.
The annual Sheilah Winn Shakespeare regional competition will take place at the historic theatre, giving participants the opportunity to perform in a working theatre instead of the usual school hall, says organiser Emma Walker.
Emma, who is the arts coordinator and drama teacher at Stratford High School, says it is her first year organising the festival, and she is enjoying the experience.
“I have worked closely with Jo Stallard from the Stratford District Theatre Trust. This year, the festival will be held at the Theatre instead of Stratford High School, providing students with the fantastic opportunity to perform on the stage within a working theatre.”
Both Stratford High School and Taranaki Diocesan School have entries in this year’s festival, as do New Plymouth Girls School, Sacred Heart and Spotswood.
The festival is an annual event involving more than half the country’s secondary schools. During the regionals, students choose and perform a 15-minute adult or student-directed scene from a Shakespearean play, or a five-minute student-directed excerpt.
Schools from each region are then selected to go on to participate in the national festival, held in Wellington over the Queen’s Birthday holiday weekend.
“The Festival scope is wide as students act, direct, serve as crew, compose music, write essays and create costumes, posters, static images and DVD covers for their performances. In 2017 68 per cent of performance’s were student directed,” says Emma.
Emma herself performed in the Festival in the mid 90s. This led to her performing in Geoff Allen’s Romeo and Juliet at the Kings Theatre.
“It also fired up a passion for performing Shakespeare in me so much that after I finished drama school I was employed by a Shakespeare theatre company in the UK.” Emma says.
Stratford High School and Taranaki Diocesan students have also been working with Kiwi actress Holly Shanahan in workshops working on language, acting and understanding Shakespeare, says Emma.
? The Sheilah Winn Festival is being held at 1pm with a 6.45pm finish, Monday April 8 at the Kings Theatre. Ticketing is through door sales only. $5 per adult and gold coin donation for children.
NZ Herald 31 Mar, 2019 12:48pm
Mastering the art of performance, dealing with nerves, being competitive and learning the beauty of Shakespeare were all part of the challenge for high school students battling for the title of regional winner of the Shelia Winn Shakespeare competition at the weekend.
Nine groups took to the stage at Rotorua Lakes High School on Saturday.
One Western Heights High School group chose a 15-minute excerpt from act one, scene one of Much Ado About Nothing.
Teacher Keely Bell had an interest in Shakespeare and decided to direct the scene.
“I really wanted to do a play with a strong female character, which Beatrice is, and that I know Denva [Graves] herself could play really well, and I know Tamahou [Smith] can bring his sass to his character, Benedick.”
The scene centres around Beatrice as the young woman of the house. A group of men are staying after their time in the war, but friends and foes are reunited and sparks threaten to fly.
Western Heights High School students including Denva Graves, (left) and Tamahou Smith (far right) perform during the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Rotorua Regional Festival. Photo / Ben Fraser
The Shelia Winn Shakespeare competition is designed to encourage critical thought, historical curiosity, an exploration of human behaviour and a love of literature and language.
The winner of the regional competition will travel to Wellington for the national competition but Bell said it was less about the competition for her group.
“We have had a big focus on the process . . . the competition can be really unhealthy.”
Year 13 student Tamahou Smith played the witty and charismatic character of Benedict and hopes one day to grace our television screens as an actor.
“I forgot one part of my chant though, I was trying to memorise it before because I had a little block. I felt myself panicking a bit.”
Smith and fellow actor and classmate Denva Graves had both performed in the Shelia Winn competition in Year 11 but found this time easier because of their growing confidence on the stage.
“We didn’t do it for the competition we did it for the experience,” Graves said.
“There is almost a beauty of it, I like the rhythm and the learning of Shakespeare.
“Because it is real, you actually have to learn it, I’d like to do television as well but you can just retake. I like the nerves that keep you going on the stage.”
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/education/news/article.cfm?c_id=35&objectid=12217742&fbclid=IwAR3LGsbRT554wQlYVGf5xubNEc3vbVRKxLJNXw-FXexz4H8ytPr0bZoPCB8
Rotorua Daily Post 29 Mar, 2019 10:00am
By: Cira Olivier, cira.olivier@nzme.co.nz
Regional school Shakespeare festival organiser Candice Visser says students’ drive and creativity never fail to impress her. Photo / Stephen Parker
Blood, sweat, and glitter has gone into giving new life to Shakespeare, and Rotorua students will showcase their take on the classics for a chance to head to the Globe Theatre in London.
The 2019 University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Rotorua Regional Festival will grace the stage at Rotorua Lakes High School this Saturday.
The festival, in its 28th year, gives local students the chance to direct and perform in front of an adjudicator who selects the best performances to go on to the national festival.
From there, students are in the running to go to the Globe Theatre in London.
Local organiser Candice Stevenson had been organising the Rotorua regional festival for the past six years and said the students never failed to impress her.
With only nine weeks for students to source and edit the scripts, hold auditions, and bring their idea to life, Stevenson said the feat was undeniable.
“You wouldn’t think students would get geared up on Shakespeare,” she laughed.
The competing groups this weekend are from Rotorua Girls’ High School, Western Heights High School, John Paul College, and it has also been extended this year to Katikati College.
Performances will be either a student or teacher-directed scene which will be the director’s take on Shakespeare.
One of the acts the audience can expect is a Hamlet and clown infusion, directed by Stevenson.
Having been to the Globe in London when she was younger, she knew firsthand what could be gained personally and creatively from the exposure.
She said students who attended the Wellington festival last year came back with a renewed passion and sparked creativity from seeing what others had done.
“Because I’ve gone through it, I know what students can get out of it,” which is one of the reasons Stevenson always put her hand up to organise the festival in Rotorua.
Students from Rotorua had previously made it to London which Stevenson said showed others it was possible to make it.
“It’s not just a dream.”
The national festival will be in Wellington on June 3 where 3000 students will perform for the 60 spots at the London Globe.
The details
What: 2019 University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Rotorua Regional Festival
Where: Rotorua Lakes High School
When: Saturday, from 11am
Tickets: $8 Adults, $5 students. Door sales only
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/good-news/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503279&objectid=12215884
SGCNZ NSSP 2018
Channel: North Shore’s Monthly Magazine
Editorial, Issue 91, September 2018
Wherefore art thou Isabella?
Kristin Head Girl Isabella Howarth has been granted direct entry to the Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ (SGCNZ) National Shakespeare Schools Production in October.
This year, Kristin students from Year 8 to Year 13 took the opportunity to prepare and perform scenes from a wide variety of Shakespeare’s works at the SGCNZ North Auckland Regional Festival of the University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival. This year attracted over 50 scenes from schools all over North Auckland.
At the prizegiving for the festival, we were all thrilled to learn that Isabella Howarth, who had performed as Queen Margaret in a scene from Richard III with Finlay Jackson (Richard) and Maddison Gaze (Lady Anne), had been chosen as the direct entrant to the SGCNZ National Shakespeare Schools Production in October. An honour to be individually singled out by Auckland director and judge Colin McColl as a key performer who shone on stage.
Only 24 students from across New Zealand are chosen for direct entry to the production, where they are joined by a further 22 students chosen from performers at the National Shakespeare Festival in June. As a direct entry student, Isabella was invited to attend the national festival where she was able to participate in the workshops with some of the national representatives, as well as attending the performances of the Festival.
She is now preparing to attend a week-long intensive course in the upcoming October holidays, which is to be held in Dunedin at the University of Otago Campus. She will be working in a programme of workshops and rehearsals, studying aspects of Shakespeare’s work, working with leading directors, and culminating in a performance of The Taming of the Shrew directed by Kim Morgan.
This is a phenomenal achievement by Isabella, and is testament to the work that she, Finlay and Maddie put into making their scene memorable. Well done Bella!
– Janelle Pitout, Curriculum Leader of Teaching and Learning Drama
Woodford House News: Student Success
STEPH GOODWIN SELECTED FOR THE 2019 YOUNG SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
Earlier this year, Year 13 student Steph Goodwin won first place for an original piece entitled ‘Madness’ in the Music Composition category at the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand (SGCNZ) National University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival in Wellington. In October, Steph gained another amazing achievement by receiving selection as a member of the SGCNZ 2019 Young Shakespeare Company.
As part of this selection, Steph will travel to London next July on a study and performance tour to work with leading tutors and directors overseas, as well as see some of England’s best theatre practitioners and experience first-hand Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Steph will participate in workshops, talks, Q&A sessions about the plays with actors and directors, behind the scene tours of the Globe, Rose and National Theatre, watch performances and rehearse at the world renowned Globe.
Alongside 23 other members of the Young Shakespeare Company (YSC), Steph will take part in rehearsals taken by a Globe Director in scenes from one of Shakespeare’s plays. The Company will then have the amazing opportunity to perform for the public on the Globe stage.
The selection process to become a member of the 2019 SYC was based on the week-long involvement Steph had with the SGCNZ’s National Shakespeare Schools Production (NSSP) earlier in the year. A selection panel, including three leading New Zealand Directors, high-calibre Workshop Tutors, and all other affiliated personnel, evaluated the 48 students and selected an exceptionally talented group of 24 students to represent New Zealand.
All members were chosen not only on their artistic merits, but on qualities of compatibility to ‘mesh’ as a group, their ability to relate well to all age groups, and being ‘sponges’ who will develop from the opportunity and are willing to give back to the community on their return.
The process to become a member of the Young Shakespeare Company has been an amazing experience and journey for Steph:
“I was so excited to be a part of the SGCNZ National Shakespeare Schools Production (NSSP), it was one of the best things I have ever done. I remember receiving so much love and support from the incredibly talented actors, costumiers, directors and organiser. As the composer I would dabble and create music for each group, which enabled me to get to know every group and member in the SGCNZ NSSP. I was amazed by each individual’s abilities and their sense of knowing who they were.
I gained a huge amount of experience from the week of SGCNZ NSSP. I composed for three plays, and each play looked amazing on stage by the end of the week. The week was life changing and rewarding for us as young passionate composers, actors and costumiers. Not only did it help me improve my composing abilities, management and confidence, but I also made 47 best friends.
For me, being selected in the 2019 Young Shakespeare Company gives me hope for achieving my dream to be a successful and inspiring person in the arts industry in New Zealand, and possibly global. Now I have an eagerness to take on the world with my artistic abilities. This experience will help me work towards my dreams and future career, and I’m looking forward to spending time with the 24 talented actors once again. I’ve never been overseas further than Australia so I can’t wait to see London!”
SGCNZ UOSWSF 2018
Blenheim Sun, 11 April 2018
River City Press, 5 April 2018
Whanganui Chronicle, 5 April 2018
Napier Courier, 28 March 2018
Napier Courier, 28 March 2018
Whanganui Chronicle, 14 March 2018
Whanganui Midweek, 31 January 2018
SGCNZ YSC 2018
SGCNZ UOSWSF 2016
The Star (Dunedin), 26 May 2016
SGCNZ YSC 2016
Bay of Plenty Times, 29 October 2015
SGCNZ NSSP 2016
Taupo & Turangi Weekender, 23 June 2016 about Chloe Jacques
Whanganui Chronicle, 29 August 2016 about Vincent Collins
SGCNZ General
Wellington’s own Globe? – Dominion Post, 17/01/2017
http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/88484574/detroit-v-wellington-wholl-get-shakespeares-container-globe-first?cid=facebook.post.88484574
“An expat Kiwi wants to make Wellington the first city to have a container replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London – but the capital will have competition from Detroit.
Angus Vail, who runs business management for rock acts such as Kiss in the United States, wants to bring the 60-container, $8.5 million semi-permanent structure to Wellington, providing a new 1200-seat venue and tourist drawcard.
While other interpretations of the Globe – which is itself a replica – exist around the world, Vail said there was a need for a duplicate venue of similar dimensions and medieval feel outside London, so its players could tour.
(…)
The moveable, modular structure built from 20ft shipping containers would have 600 box seats and standing room for another 600. It could be put on a vacant lot and become permanent or be moved later, he said.
(…)
Vail is working with Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ founder Dawn Sanders, who said the theatre would fill a void in mid-size venues in the capital and could be used for all performing arts, from rock concerts to ballet.
“It just seems like a no-brainer if we can get a developer and the council’s heads together,” Sanders said.
She had approached a number of developers and had the backing of Shakespeare’s Globe, which was excited at the prospect.
Shakespeare’s Globe chief executive Neil Constable has backed Vail’s idea and said the replica, or replicas, in whichever city they were set up would be a “huge asset to the world and to the Shakespeare family”, as it would allow its players to tour.
(…)
A recent council-commissioned report recommended the council consider building a mid-sized venue, but with a focus on accessibility, affordability, and flexibility.
Overall perceptions of existing venues were relatively poor, and there were many calls for a purpose-built, mixed-use venue somewhere in the 400-800 seat range.” – Stuff, 17/01/2017